The association participates in two meetings to consolidate strategic alliances within the Spanish and Catalan ecosystems.

This week featured two strategic meetings that strengthen the collaborative fabric of Spain's and Catalonia's biohealth sector.

AseBio and Catalonia.health explore strategic collaboration pathways

On Wednesday, March 26, Catalonia.health hosted a visit at its headquarters from a delegation of the Spanish Biotech Association (AseBio), the organization that has grouped and represented the interests of companies, associations, foundations, universities, and research and technology centers developing activities in biotechnology in Spain for 25 years.

The AseBio delegation was led by Cristina Nadal, President of AseBio and MSD representative, Santiago de Torres, 2nd Vice President and Atrys Health representative, and Laura Pellisé, Board Member of AseBio representing Amgen and also a member of Catalonia.health's Board of Directors. This latter circumstance particularly facilitated dialogue, as Laura Pellisé knows both organizational realities firsthand.

For Catalonia.health, the meeting was attended by Arantxa Sanz, CEO, Marta Parente, Vice President, and Eva Garcia Ramos, President. The meeting served to present Catalonia.health's new Board of Directors and explore collaboration pathways between both organizations.

The visit aimed to build bridges and establish synergies between the two main representative organizations of Spain's biohealth sector. Both AseBio, with a national focus and consolidated track record of sectoral representation, and Catalonia.health, with a Catalan territorial scope but strong international projection, share challenges and opportunities that can be better addressed through collaboration.

Key topics discussed included:

Joint representation before administrations: How to coordinate efforts to convey sector needs at state and regional levels, avoiding duplications and maximizing the impact of sectoral lobbying actions.

Internationalization: Exploring formulas to facilitate better access to international markets for member companies of both entities, leveraging each organization's networks and contacts.

Talent and investment attraction: Sharing best practices and designing possible joint actions to attract qualified talent and investment to Spain's biohealth sector.

Dialogue with regulatory and funding agencies: Identifying areas where a joint sector voice can be especially effective before bodies such as AEMPS, AEI, or the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

This meeting takes place in a context of growing need for collaboration between regional ecosystems and sectoral organizations in Spain. Spain's biohealth sector, while having internationally recognized strengths, also faces structural challenges requiring coordinated action: lack of funding in intermediate development phases, regulatory fragmentation, difficulties in scaling companies, and growing competition from other European and global hubs.

The shared commitment of AseBio and Catalonia.health is to build bridges that enable better leverage of synergies between territories and companies, strengthening the competitive position of the Spanish sector as a whole.

Participation in AEBALL's Health Innovation Day: driving the territorial Biocluster

Also on Wednesday, March 26, Catalonia.health's CEO Arantxa Sanz participated in the Health Innovation Day organized by AEBALL Salut with support from L'Hospitalet City Council. This event, held at Greenvia Building, brought together key actors from L'Hospitalet and Baix Llobregat health ecosystems to drive the territory's growth and consolidation as an innovation hub in health.

The event focused on presenting the Innovation and Health Biocluster and AEBALL Salut ecosystem projects as a strategic engine driving collaboration opportunities and synergies. The day included a roundtable on innovation and collaboration, business opportunities in the health sector, moderated by Miguel Ángel Souto (IDIBELL) and Javier Tapia (Bellvitge University Hospital), with participation from Felip Miralles (Eurecat), Marta Herrero (Reig Jofre), Nuria Gonzalez (Prestait), and Antonio Gaznares (Smith&Nephew).

Beyond content sessions, the event incorporated an exhibition space for ecosystem companies and a scheduled B2B meeting agenda that facilitated qualified contacts and real synergies among companies, research centers, and hospitals in the territory.

Catalonia.health's presence at this event responds to the strategic importance the organization places on strengthening territorial ecosystems within Catalonia. L'Hospitalet and Baix Llobregat concentrate a significant critical mass of health actors: Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), biotechnology and medical technology companies, and infrastructures like Greenvia Labs, a laboratory and health innovation space presented during the event.

The consolidation of this territorial biocluster strengthens Catalonia's health ecosystem as a whole, creating new collaboration opportunities among companies, talent, and research. Catalonia.health plays a facilitating role in these territorial dynamics, connecting local actors with global opportunities and ensuring territorial projects align with broader sector strategies.